Getting on the ramp to the interstate, a cardinal flew down and smacked (clunked) into the right front headlight! Just went out to survey the damage which turned out to be only a splat on the headlight and a few feathers between the headlight and the body. I'll take some Plexus to that when I get home. Phewwwwwwww, escaped with no damage........just waxed the front end yesterday!!

Anybody else ever have a bird fly into your car?

 

Yes, I have. Not this one, but my Supra. And I think that you will find that it is not as uncommon as you might think.

Just yesterday in my S2K on the Interstate, a large crow flew in and landed on the white stripe between me and another car that were both going about 75. I suspect that birds aren't known for their extreme intelligence. They are, however known for their crapping prowess, so watch out!

[Edited by J R on 04-20-2001 at 06:13 AM]

 

I've actually hit 3 birds (no not all at once). The last one happened maybe 2 years ago, and while my previous run-ins had been blackbirds, this one was a hawk! He was cruisin' for food or something over the median of an interstate...maybe 4' off the ground going the same direction I was. I saw him flying along and thought, "Man I sure hope he doesn't decide to duck across the road...he's right at the height of my windshield." Not 5 seconds later he did exactly that....splat, right in front of my eyes. Left a very large brown and red smear up to the top of the windshield and onto the roof. I actually had to lean over to the side to be able to see. I'm amazed he didn't damage anything. Thus endeth the lesson.

 

My big worry is deer.

My favorite road for casual running is a back road around Lake Tyler in NE Texas. The road is a great run but is enclosed on both sides by wooded homesteads and wildlife preserves.

Twice now I've had to test the evasive maneuvers of my Stook. The deer always think they can get to the other side, but decide to try it only after we make direct eye contact. Sort of a mammal-to-mammal challenge.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AATees
[B]My big worry is deer.

My favorite road for casual running is a back road around Lake Tyler in NE Texas.

 

While the first generation Dodge Viper R was being development tested at Road Atlanta a few years back, a Red Tailed Hawk (big bird) did a kamikazie dive bomb right through the passenger side of the front windshield during a 145 mph run down the back straight!! I think Tommy Archer was driving. I know that birds of prey will hunt snakes, but damn!

 

My wife and I have hit 2 birds in the last 3 weeks. The first landed in the middle of a 2-lane road and then panicked when cars went by on both sides and flew into my windshield.

The second, we were about in the middle of Nowhere, Arizona when a big, brown something went CRACK! into the windshield. We never even saw the bird, but it left a big wing imprint in the dust on the windshield. I was looking in the other direction and thought that a rock had hit the top of the car.

Neither one damaged the windshield, beyond needing some icky cleanup.

 

Great, first we have Scot the Easter Bunny Killer, now we have all kinds of bird killers...what is this board coming to?!



I haven't hit a bird in my S2000. But back in high school, in my friends 75 Cutlass, black lacquer paint with white racing stripes, swivel seats (remember those?!), fully built and blueprinted motor with a cam from HELL...(man, that thing was fast as balls)...well, when he would drop to first at about 30mph, we would always surprise the unsuspecting birds and the next thing we knew, it was a flurry of feathers rushing towards the windshield...

hehe

Not that I am endorsing the senseless battering of innocent birds, but when you're 17 years old, stoned out of your gourd and you have nothing better to do, it was pretty freaking hilarious!

LOL

Those were the days...

 

AATees, where is Lake Tyler? I'm still looking for some decent S2000 roads (DFW airport area isn't real good for twisties ), so I'd like to try your route. Thanks!

 

Last weekend at the NSX/S2000 meet I hit a bird doing 100MPH down a straight away. It flew down in front of me to pick up something on the road as it was lifting off I hit it! I guess it couldn't lift off fast enough and I was doing 100MPH. I felt sooooo bad When I went to survey the damage I found that the front of my car looked like the inside of my car. BTW the inside of my car is RED Fortunately no dings or scratches. Poor bird.......